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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

From: Calvin Hsieh <u2172778@*******.ACSU.UNSW.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Underwater breathing
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 1996 12:06:01 +1100
On Wed, 27 Nov 1996, Peter Coxon wrote:
SNIP
> Just a thought use a internal air tank (cyber) then fill the lungs with liquid
> and then go diving, then use the air in the tank to reinflate your lungs???
> (flame away I am not quite consious and what I just said might be a loada...)
> >Shaman
> Tim (ntoo)
>
I thought about this. However, let's envisage this from a physiological
point of view. The alveolar of the lungs (where gas exchange takes place
between air and blood) expand against resistance and surface tension. It
uses surfactant to reduce this and also (most importantly) allow small
alveoli to reinflate before bloating up the larger ones. Removal of
surfactant with liquids has a devastating effect. So, in order to
include this idea, we have to incorporate a surfactant excreting
cyberware as well.

The other problem is the gas mixture. From memory (and name) the O2 gas
tank is pure O2. This has serious ramifications if we were to reinflate
with just O2. Hence, a better "air" mixture is needed. If reinflating at
sea level, then an air mixture can be used. If in an underwater city or
something, then the pressure would require another mixture, to compensate
for the partial pressure of O2. So a helium/oxygen mix could be used.

Anyway, I'm blathering. I hope you get the general idea.

Shaman

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